The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-28
THE TROUBLESOME SECTION
The Interstate Commission Hears Evil
dence for and Against Suspension.
tied Victory for the Baltimore & Ohio
Miscellaneous Railway News.


ATLANTA, Ga, April 2K-The Interstate-com-
merce Commission began its first meeting here
at 10 o'clock this morning, in the City Council
chamber Judge Cooley called the meeting to
order, and stated that large number of petit
tions had been received from railroads in this
part of the country. asking for exceptional
orders under the interstate-commerce act.
These orders could be made only upon evidence
taken before the commission. He said: 1--WE
have come here to hear this evidence on the
part of those who urge the exceptional orders
and those who oppose Them The evidence will
be given under oath. just as if it were judicial
investigation. AS the petitions are numerous
and our time is limited, we will have to map out
a mode of procedure which will expedite mat
ters. 1t is desirable that persons and7communi-
ties shall concentrate their views. petitions and
evidence. We do not expect to examine each
petition by itself, but shall take them up to-
eether, for the facts sustaining one petition are
much the same those supporting the others.
Governor Bullock asked the commission to
suspend the regular order of business, so that
resolution adopted last night by q large meet
ing could be presented. Thereupon Maj. j. F.
Hanson, of Macon, read a resolution asking the
commission to make permanent its temporary
suspension of the long-and-short-ha haul clause Of
the bill.
The commission expressed desire to he ar
from the railways, and list of witnesses was
given. The first witness examined was Charles
A. Sindall, secretary of the Southern Railway
and Steamship Association. Gen. E. p. Alex
a. = a.
road, conducted the direct examination. The
witness gave minute explanations of how
rates are made and maintained by railroads and
water lines. He was cross-examined at great
length by Judge Cooley, Commissioners Walker
and Bragg.
r. M. Emerson, of the Atlantic Coast line,
and W. p. Shellman, of the Georgia Central
road, were examined on the same points at great
length. The commission then took a recess till
3PaG!.
After recess, this afternoon, in addition to the
associated roads, the boards Of trade of various
cities of Georgia, South Carolina and North Car
DINA presented memorials in support of the ap-
plication for the suspension of the section.
When the commission took a recess, this oven
ing to 10 o'clock tomorrow, the water trans
opposition to the suspension. A. j. Wassett
representing the steamboat companies of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. presented memo
rial opposing the suspension. The commission
viii get through here tomorrow and 60 to Mo-
bile
Business Accommodating at Washin gton.
WASHINGTON, April ,27-General Manager
Mellen, of the Wisconsin Central, telegraphs
deeply regretting the inability Of the commission
to give immediate attention to the petition of
his line, and says; Large quantities of busi-
ness are being contracted for summer sdelivery
by lake lines for Duluth, and the loss to us by
delay will be very great, If send you verified
statements of tonnage being eontsaeted Tor in
the East via Duluth, and of grain and -four of
Minneapolis via Duluth, will it aid our cause2
We are suffering 80.
James Smith, jr.. general solicitor Of the st.
Paul s. Duluth Railroad Company asks on be-
half of that company, hearing in opposition to
the petition of the Chicago, st. Paul. Minneap-
oils & Omaha Railroad Company for release
from the operation of the fourth section
number of firms of agriculturists and horti.
culturist in the San Joaquin valley, of Califor-
MIA, telegraph that the manufacturers and deal
ers In agricultural implements have made ad-
upon them by the interstate commerce act Be-
lieving that the act is being interpreted as to
decrease the value of all they have to sell and
increase the price Of all they buy these petition
ers ask such relief as it may be within the COM
missions power to grant.
NJ. A. Fulton, of Hudson, Wis, has preferred
charges against the Chicago, st. Paul. Minneap-
oils q Omaha road, that the rates fixed upon
freight from Chicago to Hudson and intermedi-
ate points are unreasonable and unjust He
states that freight was carried in large quanti-
ties, in February and March last at less than
half the present rates. and that the earnings
were then sufficient to pay interest and divi.
dends upon watered stock. 1.-THE little finger of
this new tariff" he says, sis heavier upon US
than were the loins of the old tariff" A copy OF
the charges has been forwarded to the company
for satisfaction or answer"
The Kelley Island Wine Company, of Kelley's
Island, in Lake Erie, protest against the petit
lions OF the transcontinental lines. except there
be condition that the charges for west-bound
class coming eastward. They say that wines
have been brought from the Pacific coast to the
Mississippi valley for % cents a hundred, and
are so brought at present for 20 cents hundred
while the west-bound wines charged at the
rate OF 81 10 a hundred from ST. Louis TO Den
Yer, and from Sandusky to Denver over 49,
Nfhe commissions correspondence continues
TO be yoluminous ana widely variant in charac
ter. There are before 1t many quaint personal
complaints based upon single transactions OF
the railroads. and many more which are stated
in general terms and informally, for the pur
pose of getting information as TO the methods Of
procedure required by the commission A pooG
deal of personal adv re comes in from the prairie
States, and good deal of scoding is mixed
with the prayers and protests from other sec
tiors. The letters OF inquiry from representa-
tives Of leading commercial and industrial inter
ests in all sections indicate that wheu the publi,
shall have been fully instructed with regard t.
the necessary forms OF procedure the commits
sion will have its dockets full to OVERLOOKING O
cases involving delicate questions of great i'm
portance to the community, other than those re
lating to the long and short-haul feature
Secretary Mosely now has force of fv
clerks and messenger. aud is classifying thu
correspondence and rapidly answering such in
quiries as can be answered in accordance wit.
the presidents and rulings already made by tn,
commission.
Dinerential Rates Question Settled.
CHICAGO, April PA meeting Of the genera
passenger and ticket agents of the lines in tn
Western States Passenger Association was hsl
here to-day. Petitions were received from sew
eral of their Eastern connections asking tina
the differentia fares now in effect over such East
ern lines be adopted by the Western linesias bas
ing rates in making through fares to the Eas
from the territory west of Chicago, St Louis
Peoria, Bloomington, etc, the Eastern line
communicating the assurance that thew woul